​​Please note this is a hybrid role based on the successful candidate working at least two days a week in our London office. Remote contracts would not be considered for this role. 

​​Comic Relief reserves the right to close the role early if a large number of applications are received.

Purpose of job:​ 

The Senior New Partnerships Manager plays a critical role in helping Comic Relief achieve its mission of a Just World Free from Poverty by securing transformational partnerships with trusts, foundations, and institutional funders (TFI). These high-value, long-term collaborations enable Comic Relief to scale its impact, reach new communities, and invest in sustainable, social change across the UK and globally. 

Working closely with the Head of New Partnerships & Philanthropy, the postholder is responsible for leading the development and delivery of a strategy to secure and manage six- and seven-figure partnerships that generate significant restricted and unrestricted income. This includes developing compelling partnership propositions, managing complex negotiations, and ensuring alignment with Comic Relief’s funding strategy and social change objectives. 

This role works cross-functionally with key internal teams—including Funding, Finance, and Legal—to shape partnership frameworks that reflect best practice, sustainability, and shared value. As a senior representative of Comic Relief to external funders, the Senior New Partnerships Manager will also lead on relationship management and influence strategic collaboration, ensuring our partners are engaged, inspired, and aligned with our mission and values. 

​​Key responsibilities: ​ 

• Work with the Head of New Partnerships & Philanthropy to develop, implement and monitor a strategy for delivering new high value partnerships with trusts, foundations and institutions  

• Responsible for an agreed multi-million-pound personal income targets each year 

• To work closely with the Funding Team and other colleagues across the organisation to develop partnership propositions that are in line with Comic Relief’s funding strategy and will leverage significant income for Comic Relief  

• Develop, implement and monitor relationship management principles for TFI partners, including representation on night of TV, governance structure, stakeholder mapping and ways of working with the funding team 

• Relationship management of key TFI partners, working with colleagues from across Comic Relief to ensure delivery against agreed partnership objectives.  

• Work with Funding Team and Finance Team to ensure that sufficient core costs and management fees are included in partnership agreements, working closely with Finance and Legal to manage this consistently  

• To clearly negotiate contractual and legal frameworks for partnerships that deliver restricted and unrestricted income to help deliver Comic Relief’s social change strategy  

​​Person specification​ 

​​Essential criteria​  

• Experience of working in partnership with major UK or global trusts, foundations or institutions 

• Proven demonstration of hitting sales/fundraising targets 

• Experience developing and implementing bespoke plans/objectives for each partnership. 

• Experience of securing and managing £1m+ multiyear partnerships 

• Exceptional communication, networking, influencing and persuading skills 

• Strong track record of cross-functional collaboration within complex organisations. 

• Experience with contractual and legal frameworks for developing partnerships 

• Solid understanding of the TFI funding landscape, with proven skills in high-level relationship management with TFI partners. 

• Proven experience securing significant fixed income through strategic partnerships. 

​​Desirable criteria​ 

• Effective Communication skills, written and oral – including strong presentation skills. 

• Building and sustaining effective working relationships both internally and externally. 

• Demonstrated understanding of the broader charitable and fundraising landscape. 

• Knowledge of the impact of poverty on vulnerable people in the UK and around the world 

• Experience of securing and/or managing a £multimillion, multi-year TFI partnership with a global funder    

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Comic Relief we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. 

Why work at Comic Relief 

There are lots of good reasons to join us at Comic Relief. You can read more about our employee benefits, such as our commitment to flexible and hybrid working. We ask staff to come to the office twice a week, normally on agreed team days, so that we can do all those things that are difficult to do online. Our office is based in Whitechapel, London, There are lots of opportunities to develop your skills and experience at Comic Relief, including opportunities to become a Mental Health First Aider or to participate in our Employee Network Groups that focus on making Comic Relief a more inclusive place to work 

Disability Confident employer 

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we take positive action by providing first-round interviews to candidates who have a registered disability, provided they meet the minimum criteria for the role, as demonstrated on their CV or application scores. We ask that candidates that wish to be considered for this scheme email Recruitment@comicrelief.com to discuss further. Please do not email CV's/cover letters.